Slide rail assembly

ABSTRACT

A slide rail apparatus includes an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail, a latch member slidably mounted to the intermediate rail, and a resilient member. The latch member includes a first abutting post and a second abutting post. When the supporting member supports the first abutting post to keep the latch member at a locking position, the second abutting post of the latch member abuts a stop portion of the intermediate rail, to slide the intermediate rail and the inner rail forward synchronously. When the latch member slides forward to be received in a positioning notch of the outer rail, the resilient member restores to slide the latch member to an unlocking position, where the second abutting post of the latch member disengages from the stop portion, to enable the inner rail to slide out of the intermediate rail.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to device housing technologies.

2. Description of Related Art

Slide rail assemblies are often used in rackable server systems for slidably mounting server units thereon.

Many slide rail assemblies include an outer slide rail fixed to the server rack, an inner slide rail fixed to one server unit, and an intermediate slide rail arranged between the outer and inner slide rails. The intermediate slide rail is extendable relative to the outer slide rail, and the inner slide rail is extendable relative to the intermediate slide rail, thus the server unit can be extended a distance out from the server rack. Considerations of strength and smoothness of operation may render a given order or sequence preferable in a given slide configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawing. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a slide rail assembly, including an outer rail, an intermediate rail, an inner rail, a latch member, and a resilient member.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the latch member of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3-5 are assembled, side plan views of FIG. 1 in different conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a slide rail assembly includes an outer rail 10, an intermediate rail 20 slidably coupled to the outer rail 10, an inner rail 30 slidably coupled to the intermediate rail 20, a latch member 40, and a resilient member 50.

The outer rail 10 includes an elongated rail body 11, and a support bar 12 fixed to the rail body 11. The rail body 11 defines a substantially C-shaped cross section, and includes a sidewall (not labeled) and two flanges (not labeled) extending from opposite sides of the sidewall. A substantially U-shaped holding portion 112 protrudes from an inner side of the sidewall of the rail body 11. The holding portion 112 includes a first abutting block 1121 and a second abutting block 1123 at opposite ends of the holding portion 112, with a positioning notch 1125 defined between the first abutting block 1121 and the second abutting block 1123. In one embodiment, the support bar 12 is riveted to the rail body 11, and extends along a longitudinal axis of the rail body 11. A top side of the support bar 12 is flush with the first abutting block 1121 of the holding portion 112.

The intermediate rail 20 defines a substantially C-shaped cross section, and includes a sidewall (not labeled) and two flanges (not labeled) extending from opposite sides of the sidewall. A slide slot 22 is defined in the sidewall of the intermediate rail 20, adjacent to a rear end of the intermediate rail 20. A securing portion 24 extends inwards from the sidewall of the intermediate rail 20, behind and adjacent to the slide slot 22. A fixing hole 26 is defined in the sidewall of the intermediate rail 20, between the securing portion 24 and the slide slot 22. A protrusion 28 protrudes outwards from the sidewall of the intermediate rail 20, in front of and adjacent to the slide slot 22. The slide slot 22 extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the intermediate rail 20, and includes an access portion 221 at a top of the slide slot 22.

The inner rail 30 includes a sidewall (not labeled) and two flanges (not labeled) extending from opposite sides of the sidewall. A stop portion 32 and a releasing portion 34 protrude outwards from the sidewall of the inner rail 30, adjacent to a rear end of the inner rail 30. The releasing portion 34 is arranged in front of the stop portion 32, and forms a cam surface 341 facing the stop portion 32.

Referring to FIG. 2, the latch member 40 includes a disc-shaped main body 41, and a cylindrical first and second abutting posts 44 and 46 respectively extending from opposite sides of the main body 41. A first mounting groove 441 is defined in a circumferential surface of the first abutting post 44, near the main body 41. A second mounting groove 461 is defined in a circumferential surface of the second abutting post 46, near the main body 41.

In one embodiment, the resilient member 50 is an elastic metal wire in a substantial V-shape, forming a first resilient arm 54 and a second resilient arm 56. A coupling portion 541 is formed on a distal end of the first resilient arm 54. A hook 561 is formed on a distal end of the second resilient arm 56.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in assembly, the first abutting post 44 of the latch member 40 is received in the access portion 221 of the slide slot 22 of the intermediate rail 20, and slides downwards with opposite sides bounding the slide slot 22 received in the first mounting groove 441 of the latch member 40. The main body 41 of the latch member 40 abuts an inner surface of the sidewall of the intermediate rail 20. The first abutting post 44 and the second abutting post 46 are respectively located outside and inside the intermediate rail 20. The resilient member 50 is retained to the securing portion 24 of the intermediate rail 20. The coupling portion 541 of the first resilient arm 54 of the resilient member 50 is placed around the second abutting post 46 of the latch member 40 and received in the second mounting groove 461 of the latch member 40. The hook 561 of the second resilient arm 56 of the resilient member 50 is fixed in the fixing hole 26 of the intermediate rail 20. Accordingly, the resilient member 50 is mounted to the intermediate rail 20 and slides the latch member 40 downwards away from the access portion 221.

The inner rail 30 is slid into the intermediate rail 20, with the latch member 40 located in front of the stop portion 32. The intermediate rail 20 is slid into the outer rail 10. At the same time, the first abutting post 44 of the latch member 40 is supported on the top of the support bar 12 and retains a locking position, where the second abutting post 46 is aligned with the stop portion 32 of the inner rail 30, and the first resilient arm 54 is impelled upwards by the support bar 12 to deform the resilient member 50.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in use, when the inner rail 30 is drawn forward, as indicated by arrow D, the stop portion 32 of the inner rail 30 abuts the second abutting post 46 of the latch member 40 after the inner rail 30 slides forward relative to the intermediate rail 20. Therefore, the intermediate rail 20 slides forward in synchronization with the inner rail 30. The first abutting post 46 is slid along the support bar 12 towards the holding portion 112, until aligning with the positioning notch 1125 thereof. In addition, the protrusion 28 of the intermediate rail 20 abuts the second abutting block 1123 to stop the intermediate rail 20 from sliding forward. The first resilient arm 54 of the resilient member 50 is restored to slide the latch member 40 downwards along the slide slot 22 of the intermediate rail 20 to an unlocked position, where the first abutting post 46 is received in the positioning notch 1125 of the holding portion 112 to stop the intermediate rail 20 from sliding rearwards indicated by arrow R. The second abutting post 46 disengages from the stop portion 32 of the inner rail 30 to enable the inner rail 30 to slide forward relative to the intermediate rail 20 and fully extend out of the intermediate rail 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the inner rail 30 is driven rearwards indicated by arrow R, intermediate rail 20 is stopped from sliding rearward with the inner rail 30 due to the contact between the first abutting post 46 and the positioning notch 1125 of the holding portion 112 of the outer rail 10. With the sliding of the inner rail 30, the cam surface 341 of the releasing portion 34 of the inner rail 30 passes through the second abutting post 46 of the latch member 40, thereby sliding the latch member 40 upwards to the locking position. The first abutting post 46 disengages from the positioning notch 1125 of the holding portion 112 of the outer rail 10 to enable the intermediate rail 20 to slide rearwards relative to the outer rail 10. At the same time, a stopping mechanism (not shown) of the intermediate rail 20 abuts the inner rail 30. Therefore, the intermediate rail 20 slides rearward in synchronization with the inner rail 30 to be received in the outer rail 10.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A slide rail assembly comprising: an outer rail comprising an elongated rail body forming a holding portion, and a support bar fixed to the rail body and extending along a longitudinal axis of the rail body, the holding portion being adjacent to a front end of the support bar; an intermediate rail slidably coupled to the outer rail; an inner rail slidably coupled to the intermediate rail, and forming a stop portion; and a latch member comprising a first abutting post extending towards the outer rail, and a second abutting post extending towards the inner rail, the latch member slidably mounted to the intermediate rail between a locking position, where the second abutting post of the latch member abuts the stop portion of the inner rail to enable the intermediate rail to slide forward in synchronization with the inner rail, and an unlocking position, where the first abutting post of the latch member is engaged with the holding portion in response to the first abutting post sliding forward away from the support bar, and the second abutting post of the latch member disengages from the stop portion of the inner rail to enable the inner rail slide forward relative to the intermediate rail; and a resilient member mounted to the intermediate rail and engaging with the latch member; wherein the latch member is kept to the locking position in response to the first abutting post of the latch member being supported on the support bar of the outer rail; the latch member is urged to slide to the unlocking position by the resilient member, in response to the first abutting post sliding forward and away from the support bar to be engaged with the holding portion of the outer rail.
 2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch member comprises a substantially disc-shaped main body between the first and second abutting posts, a first mounting groove is defined in a circumferential surface of the first abutting post, the intermediate rail defines a slide slot extending perpendicular to a longwise direction of the intermediate rail, opposite sides bounding the slide slot are slidably engaged in the first mounting groove.
 3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein a second mounting groove is defined in a circumferential surface of the second abutting post, the resilient member comprises a first resilient arm, and a second resilient arm fixed to the intermediate rail, the first resilient arm comprises a coupling portion engaged in the second mounting groove, and is restorably movable relative to the second resilient arm.
 4. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner rail further comprises a releasing portion to engage with the second abutting post of the latch member and slide the latch member along the slide slot towards the locking position in response to the inner rail sliding rearwards relative to the intermediate rail.
 5. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the releasing portion of the inner rail is arranged in front of the stop portion of the inner rail, and forms a cam surface facing the stop portion.
 6. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the holding portion comprises a first abutting block and a second abutting block, and defines a positioning notch therein between the first abutting block and the second abutting block, the first abutting post of the latch member is received in the positioning notch in response to the latch member being at the unlocking position.
 7. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the first abutting block abuts a front end of the support bar, and is flush with a top of the support bar.
 8. The slide rail assembly of claim 7, wherein the intermediate rail comprises a protrusion, the protrusion abuts the second abutting block of the holding portion of the outer rail to prevent the intermediate rail from sliding relative to the outer rail, when the first abutting post of the latch member slides over the support bar and the first abutting block is to be received in the positioning notch. 